Why+Booktalk?


 * Why Booktalk?**


 * Because booktalking:**

• Increases circulation. • Increases cooperation and communication between public libraries and schools. • Promotes your collection efficiently. • Reaches more people in one program than you may see in a whole week (especially teens). • Is an activity whose primary audience is the nonuser. • Is the most effective way to motivate reading. • Increases the audiences' awareness of the library. • Builds relationships with people. • Provides effective outreach to community groups.


 * What is a Booktalk?** A commercial designed to get someone to read a book. It is a way of "selling" your merchandise, a performance to get the audience excited about your book.


 * Tips for Writing Booktalks:**

· Choose only books you like, ones that you are enthusiastic about. · Be sure to read all the books you are booktalking. · When reading the book, look for exciting or humorous incidents, special character portrayals, etc. to find the "hook." · After reading the book, ask yourself what the book made you think of: stories in the news; concerns in people's lives? Also, what appealed to you about this book? · Don't give away the ending or any other secrets. · Don't give a book review - it should not include evaluations or critical material. · Read the book jacket (for a hardcover), or the blurb on the back (for a paperback), to see what the publicists thought was significant or attention grabbing. · It's okay to check out reviews, too, both print and online. · Think of different ways to begin: with a question; setting the scene; focusing on a character; telling a little about the plot; or setting the mood. · Don't tell too much about the book. You want to pull readers in, but not drag them through the whole book! Leave the listener wanting more. · Read aloud a passage if you want, but only if it is short and //really// worth reading. · Keep them the length of a movie trailer - 2 to 4 minutes. · Prepare what you are going to say about each book. You don't need to memorize, but you //do// need to know the points you are going to make. Practice until you are comfortable with your material. · There are as many ways to booktalk as there are book talkers. Find your own way!

**Tips for Planning and Presenting Booktalk Programs** 1. Know your audience. Ask the group's teacher/leader about your audience's  reading interests, personal interests, and attention spans, and plan your presentation accordingly. 2. Think accessibility. Select books for your talk that are available in multiple copies. Check with the school library or other libraries in your area. Once you have a list selected, inform these libraries so they can be prepared. Consider also taking some similar titles, such as other books by the same author. You may want to create a display in the library so that the audience finds the booktalking selection when they visit. 3. For students, talk with the teacher or group leader in advance to explain what you'll be doing and that you need this person to stay with the group and pay attention to the presentation. 4. Always prepare more than you will need. 5. Don't try to "elevate" their tastes. Include some titles that you know are super popular (e.g. Captain Underpants for young kids; Steven King for young adults). This will give you credibility, thus making the group more likely to pay attention. 6. Start strong and end strong. You may find it best to begin with a known author. 7. Accept that a booktalk program is a performance and learn how best to influence the audience. 8. Variety is **//key//**. Since you may be covering over 15 books in one shot, vary the types of books you present as well as the lengths and styles of the booktalks. Be sure to  include nonfiction as well as fiction. 9. Introduce yourself and warm up the crowd with a personal anecdote or joke, show enthusiasm, keep good eye contact, invite interaction, and alter your presentation as needed to keep everyone responsive. Involve the audience as often as possible. 10. Remember to repeat the title. Your audience will forget the name of the book unless you repeat it and hand out a booklist or bookmark. 11. Remember why you're there. Don't just sell books, sell reading and sell the library too. Talk about new resources, upcoming programs, etc. 12. Have a system ready so listeners can check out books on the spot. 13. Keep records of the books used and make notes about what worked and what didn't.  //(This publication is supported by the **Institute of Museum and Library Services**////, a federal agency, through the Library Services and Technology Act. Copied and distributed for educational purposes with the permission of the IMLS.)//